Sununu wins second term on Executive Council

NEWFIELDS — Republican Executive Councilor Chris Sununu was re-elected Tuesday, winning his second term in office, and fending off a challenge from Democratic and Libertarian opponents.

Sununu, an engineer from Newfields, touted his strong working relationship with Democratic Gov. John Lynch on the campaign trail. He defended his record in office, and said the current all-Republican council has worked in a nonpartisan way to advance the state’s interests.

Sununu’s Democratic opponent for the District 3 seat, Bill Duncan, of New Castle, garnered 40 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s election, compared to Sununu’s 55 percent, according to results compiled by WMUR. Libertarian candidate Michael Baldassarre, of Hampton, received 4 percent of the vote.

Sununu was a political newcomer in 2010 when he challenged Democratic incumbent Beverly Hollingworth, of Hampton, for the District 3 seat. He prevailed during an election year that saw conservative voters ousting well-established left-leaning veterans in favor of those running on a platform of fiscal constraint.

The tide was turned in 2012, with Democrats at the top of the ticket — such as President Barack Obama and governor-elect Maggie Hassan — drumming up interest in the contest.

During the next session, Sununu will find himself in the minority party on the Executive Council for the first time since he took office.

He will be seated with three new Democratic members: Chris Pappas, of Manchester; Colin Van Ostern, of Concord; and Debra Pignatelli, of Nashua. All three won election Tuesday night, as did incumbent Ray Burton, a Republican from Bath.